(Oslo, 16 October 2026) - Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine and Chairman of Aker QRILL Company, will attend this year's CCAMLR meeting in Hobart, Australia, to reaffirm the company's support for the proposed Antarctic Peninsula Marine Protected Area and improved spatial management of the krill fishery. The meeting follows a year of international engagement through the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Ocean Stewardship Initiative, working to build support for progress on both priorities.
As governments prepare to meet in Hobart from 19 to 30 October, Aker BioMarine is calling for progress on two priorities, establishing the Domain 1 Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the Antarctic Peninsula and strengthening the science-based management of the Antarctic krill fishery.
Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine, will be present in Hobart as an observer to follow the negotiations, engage with stakeholders and reaffirm the company’s support for both proposals.
"We support the proposed Antarctic Peninsula Marine Protected Area. We also support a more spatially managed krill fishery. These two things are complimentary, and after years of discussion, we hope this meeting can bring us closer to decisions and implementation," says Johansen.
Building bridges through the Ocean Stewardship Initiative
Throughout 2026, Aker BioMarine has worked alongside the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), founded by His Majesty King Charles III, through its Ocean Stewardship Initiative (OSI).
Launched in January, the initiative was developed in partnership with Aker BioMarine and Aker QRILL Company, with advice from the Marine Stewardship Council. Its first priority is to support the progress towards an Antarctic Peninsula MPA alongside a modern, science-based framework for managing the Antarctic krill fishery.
Through its international network, SMI has helped bring industry leaders, scientists and other stakeholders into the conversation, creating opportunities for constructive dialogue and greater understanding between different interests.
The work has included engagement through SMI's international CEO network, discussions on ocean conservation and fisheries governance, and efforts to identify practical pathways towards agreement.
"We've been working on these issues for years, but the Ocean Stewardship Initiative has helped bring new voices and perspectives into the discussion. SMI has played an important role in connecting people, building understanding and keeping the focus on practical solutions. That's the kind of cooperation we need if we want to see progress," says Johansen.
"Antarctica presents an important opportunity for business to help drive practical solutions for Ocean protection. Through the Ocean Stewardship Initiative, we are convening private-sector leaders alongside key stakeholders to advance marine protection and responsible fisheries management. We hope the discussions in Hobart will build momentum behind solutions that can deliver meaningful impact.", says Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Protecting Antarctica while strengthening fisheries management
The proposed Domain 1 MPA, developed by Argentina and Chile in close collaboration with other CCAMLR members, aims to protect important marine habitats and ecosystems around the Antarctic Peninsula. The region includes important feeding grounds for penguins, seals and whales, with Antarctic krill playing a fundamental role in the wider ecosystem.
Alongside the MPA proposal, CCAMLR members have been working towards an improved science-based Krill Fishery Management Approach (KFMA), including measures to manage the spatial distribution of fishing activity more effectively across the region.
Aker BioMarine is actively engaged in advancing both initiatives, recognising that marine protection and fisheries management should be complementary, guided by the best available science and aligned with CCAMLR’s conservation objectives."We depend on a healthy Antarctic ecosystem. Protecting important habitats and managing fishing activity based on the best available science is in everyone's interest. We believe stronger marine protection and a responsibly managed krill fishery can go hand in hand. Getting the details right matters, and that’s how cooperation through CCAMLR can move forward," says Johansen.
"Antarctica has a long history of countries working together, even when they have different interests. That cooperation is worth protecting. We've seen a lot of constructive engagement this year, and I hope we can now turn that into progress in Hobart," Johansen concludes.
About Aker BioMarine
Aker BioMarine is a marine biotechnology company developing krill-derived ingredients for human health and nutrition. The company has operated in the Antarctic krill value chain for more than two decades and supports science-based conservation and responsible management of marine resources.
About the Ocean Stewardship Initiative
Launched in January 2026 under the Sustainable Markets Initiative, the Ocean Stewardship Initiative brings together industry, finance, science and policymakers to accelerate marine conservation and strengthen fisheries governance. Its first delivery track focuses on supporting the proposed Antarctic Peninsula Marine Protected Area alongside improved, science-based krill fisheries management. The initiative aims to demonstrate how private-sector engagement can help translate international ocean commitments into practical action.